Dua for the Sick: What to Say When Visiting Someone Ill, and Duas for Good Health

When someone you love is ill, you want to do something, but there’s little you can do besides sitting with them, bringing food, and waiting. The Sunnah changes that. It gives you specific words to say at the bedside, including one dua the Prophet ﷺ said a sick person would be cured by, repeated seven times, unless their time had come. It also turns the hospital visit itself into one of the most rewarded acts in Islam. This guide covers the authentic duas to say for someone who is sick, the etiquette of visiting, duas for your own good health, and some original messages you can send when you can’t be there in person.

Quick answer: Sit with the sick person and say seven times: “As’alullahal-‘Azim, Rabbal-‘Arshil-‘Azim, an yashfiyak”, “I ask Allah the Almighty, Lord of the Mighty Throne, to cure you” (Sunan Abi Dawud 3106).

The Dua for a Sick Person (Said Seven Times)

Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever visits a sick person whose time of death has not yet come, and says seven times in his presence the following, Allah will cure him of that illness”:

It is short enough to learn in the car park before you walk into the hospital. For a woman, the ending stays yashfiyaki (“to cure you”, feminine), though Allah understands your intention either way.

“La Ba’sa, Tahurun In Sha Allah”

When the Prophet ﷺ visited a sick person, he would say:

I love how gentle this is. It doesn’t deny the illness. It reframes it: this is cleansing you of sins. It is the Prophet’s version of “you’ll be alright”, with a promise inside it.

Allahumma Rabban-Nas: The Healing Dua With the Right Hand

Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said the Prophet ﷺ would wipe over a sick family member with his right hand and say:

For a woman, say ishfiha (“heal her”). If you are the one in pain, the Sunnah has a separate method with your hand on the painful spot. It is explained in our dua for pain relief guide.

The Ruqyah of Jibril

When the Prophet ﷺ was unwell, the angel Jibril came and recited this over him:

The Reward for Visiting the Sick

Visiting the sick (‘iyadat al-marid) is one of the rights a Muslim has over another (Sahih al-Bukhari 1240), and its reward is remarkable:

• “Whoever visits a sick person remains in the khurfah (harvest) of Paradise until he returns” (Sahih Muslim 2568).
• “No Muslim visits a sick Muslim in the morning except that seventy thousand angels pray for him until evening, and if he visits him in the evening, seventy thousand angels pray for him until morning” (Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 969).
• In a hadith qudsi, Allah will say on the Day of Judgement: “I was ill and you did not visit Me… Had you visited him, you would have found Me with him” (Sahih Muslim 2569).

Etiquette of visiting, including hospital visits

1. Keep the visit short unless they want company. Illness is tiring.
2. Follow hospital rules: visiting hours, hand hygiene and infection control. Protecting patients is part of the Sunnah’s care.
3. Say the duas quietly and gently, placing your hand on them only if appropriate and welcome.
4. Speak hopefully. Don’t share frightening stories about similar illnesses.
5. Offer practical help: meals for the family, school runs, shopping.
6. Keep visiting if the illness is long. Consistency means more than one big visit.

Can I make dua for a non-Muslim who is sick?

Yes. The Prophet ﷺ visited a sick Jewish boy who used to serve him (Sahih al-Bukhari 1356). You can visit non-Muslim friends, neighbours and colleagues, pray for their healing and relief, and pray for their guidance.

Duas for Your Own Good Health

Health is a blessing most of us only notice when it’s gone. The Prophet ﷺ told his uncle Abbas: “Ask Allah for well-being (‘afiyah)” (Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 3514). Two short duas to add to your day:

For duas for your mother and father’s health specifically, see our dua for parents guide.

Get-Well Messages You Can Send

When you can’t visit, a message with a real dua in it means a lot. These are original messages I’ve written for different relationships. Adapt them freely.

For family – “Thinking of you all day. As’alullahal-‘Azim Rabbal-‘Arshil-‘Azim an yashfiyak. May Allah cure you completely and make this illness a purification for you. We love you.” – “Mum/Dad, rest and don’t worry about anything here. I’m making dua for you after every prayer. La ba’sa, tahurun in sha’ Allah.“

For friends – “Heard you’re not well. May Allah grant you a healing that leaves no illness behind. Tell me what you need and it’s done.” – “Get well soon, akhi/ukhti. Every hour of this is wiping away sins, in sha’ Allah. Making dua for a quick recovery.”

For colleagues – “Wishing you a speedy recovery. Take the time you need, we’ve got things covered here. Praying for your good health.” – “Sorry to hear you’re unwell. May God grant you ease and full health soon.”

For someone in hospital – “May Allah make your treatment easy, guide your doctors’ hands and bring you home healthy soon. Allahumma Rabban-nas, adhhibil-ba’s.“

Related Guides

• Dua for protection from evil eye
• Dua for the deceased
• Dua for forgiveness

Frequently Asked Questions

What dua do you say when visiting a sick person?

Say La ba’sa, tahurun in sha’ Allah (Bukhari 3616), and seven times As’alullahal-‘Azim Rabbal-‘Arshil-‘Azim an yashfiyak (Abu Dawud 3106).

What dua can I say for someone in hospital?

The same duas apply. You can also say Allahumma Rabban-nas, adhhibil-ba’s, ishfihi… (Bukhari 5743) from home, using their name.

How many times is the healing dua said?

The dua As’alullahal-‘Azim… is said seven times in the sick person’s presence, according to the hadith.

What is the dua for good health?

Allahumma ‘afini fi badani… (Abu Dawud 5090), three times morning and evening, and Allahumma inni as’alukal-‘afiyah fid-dunya wal-akhirah.

Can I make dua for a sick non-Muslim?

Yes. You can pray for their healing and guidance, and visiting them is a good deed. The Prophet ﷺ visited a sick Jewish boy.

Is there a reward for visiting the sick?

Yes: you remain in the harvest of Paradise during the visit (Muslim 2568), and seventy thousand angels pray for you (Tirmidhi 969).

Final Thoughts

Next time someone you know falls ill, don’t just send “get well soon”. Visit if you can, keep it short, and say seven times the dua the Prophet ﷺ tied to healing. Then keep them in your dua after every prayer until they are well. You may never know how much those few words carried them.

If the illness has left the family anxious, share our guide to the dua for anxiety, worry and grief with them. It collects the Prophet’s supplications for heavy days.